Dykin No-Hitter Highlights Dominant Day in Canton
Canton, Ohio – The University of Findlay softball team had its way with the Malone Pioneers on Monday, April 3. The Oilers went on the road and swept a two-game set, winning the first 9-0 with a mercy rule and following that up with an even more impressive 13-0 run rule. With the wins, Findlay improves to 19-8 on the year with a 4-2 record in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while Malone falls to 8-16 and 2-6 in the conference.
The opener quickly tilted in favor of the Oilers who would pour on nine runs in the first two innings. Four runs on five hits in the first got the barrage started and five runs on five hits in the second put the game out of reach very early on.
In those first two innings, seniors Makayla Cowan, Olivia Carlton, and Caroline Turner each had two RBI while freshman starting pitcher Kayla Dykin also had an RBI which came on a second inning triple.
While the offense was pouring it on, Dykin was putting together a special outing of her own, stealing the headline on a day in which Findlay outscored the Pioneers a combined 22-0. The Avon, Ohio native would pick up the win in the circle as she earned Findlay's first no-hitter by a freshman since Chelsea McManaway in 2015. Dykin tossed five innings and did not allow a hit while striking out seven of the 16 batters she faced. The only batter to reach base came in the first inning, a two-out walk to Malone's third hitter. After that, she retired the final 13 batters of the game.
After an impressive opener, Findlay regrouped and did nearly the same thing in the finale. The game was scoreless through two innings, but two runs in the third, seven in the fourth, and four more in the fifth solidified what was a dominating effort by the Oilers.
Having to follow up a no-hitter was sophomore Emma Jones who nearly delivered with one of her own. Jones would earn the win by throwing five innings and allowing just one hit while walking one and striking out five. The lone knock came in a single in the second inning. With that win, Jones improved to 10-1 on the year, tied for third-most wins in the G-MAC so far this season.
Offensively, Carlton, Cowan, and Turner all finished the day with two runs scored and four RBI on three hits. Junior Avery Shepherd and sophomore Rachel Mease each scored three runs to lead the Oilers in that category. Mease's highlight came in the second game where she put together a perfect 3-for-3 effort at the plate where she had three RBI and launched her first career home run.
Freshman Annika Bredel had three hits on the day, all of which were doubles, while sophomore Brooke Radermacher had three hits, as well.
Findlay will be back in action on Friday, April 7 with a doubleheader against the Lake Erie College Storm. That contest will begin at 1:00 pm in Findlay, Ohio.
That is a no hitter for Kayla Dykin!
— Findlay Oilers (@FindlayOilers) April 3, 2023
The freshman recorded seven strikeouts and just one walk against Malone. pic.twitter.com/iqHwUbCANZ